V8 Vantage - Woolly Feeling / Play In Steering

[SE24]

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all looking forward to the weekend!

As some of you know I have recently purchased a V8V (4.3), 2006, relativley high miles at 70k

This week I meet a fellow pistonheads member / owner and he let me have a go in his car (thanks again Jon, great to meet you!). Now, his car has less than 1/3 of the miles at 20k and I know comparing the two is dangerous territorty, but that's exactly what I did...

The damping was better on his car, but that's to be expected given my shocks have done an additional 50k miles. However, the thing that stood out to me the most was the steering. His steering was ultra sharp, with the tiniest movement of the wheel changing the direction of the car with a very direct feel.

My steering has dead spot / play in the middle where I can move the wheel side to side more than I would like and the car does nothing. Once the car is turning, the steering weights up and feels fine, but having expericenced the newer car, I would like to understand if anyone else has had this issue and successfully fixed it, or has any ideas on what areas I might look into / replace to freshen up the steetring and make it feel direct again - it was so direct on the other car that it was an absolute pleasure and I would like to replicate it if possible!

Worth noting that the car tried was a 2009 (but still a 4.3) I am not sure if there were any changes to steering components / design from factory between 2006 and 2009

All views and opinions welcome

Thanks

[S1-NOS]

It may be down to play (wear and tear) in the wishbones - bushes and balljoints, and track-rod ends on the steering rack. Could also be your geometry.

My 4.3 has a bit of wear in the front upper arms - BR said the bushes have moved slightly out of position. Whilst it's not a MOT failure, they said the steering wont be as sharp as it could be.

Unfortunately replacing all the steering arms / suspension on an Aston isn't cheap. There have been chats about replacement bushes but they don't seem to have come on the market yet.

I also have a S1 Elise which felt ok to me initially, but a few years ago I did a complete suspension refresh (dampers, springs, bushes, balljoints, steering rack, track rod ends) and it felt like a new car afterwards - super responsive with zero play.

[BiggaJ]

SE24 said:

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all looking forward to the weekend!

As some of you know I have recently purchased a V8V (4.3), 2006, relativley high miles at 70k

This week I meet a fellow pistonheads member / owner and he let me have a go in his car (thanks again Jon, great to meet you!). Now, his car has less than 1/3 of the miles at 20k and I know comparing the two is dangerous territorty, but that's exactly what I did...

The damping was better on his car, but that's to be expected given my shocks have done an additional 50k miles. However, the thing that stood out to me the most was the steering. His steering was ultra sharp, with the tiniest movement of the wheel changing the direction of the car with a very direct feel.

My steering has dead spot / play in the middle where I can move the wheel side to side more than I would like and the car does nothing. Once the car is turning, the steering weights up and feels fine, but having experienced the newer car, I would like to understand if anyone else has had this issue and successfully fixed it, or has any ideas on what areas I might look into / replace to freshen up the steering and make it feel direct again - it was so direct on the other car that it was an absolute pleasure and I would like to replicate it if possible!

Worth noting that the car tried was a 2009 (but still a 4.3) I am not sure if there were any changes to steering components / design from factory between 2006 and 2009

All views and opinions welcome

Thanks

It was a pleasure meeting you Mike and as mentioned during our chat and drive, apart from the steering your car seems to drive very well and is rattle free.

I think you may need to have another chat with your mechanic and ask his advice. He's been all over your car so may be able to pin point areas that can improve the steering response.

On the suspension aspect, I know from talking to my mechanic, springs get worn so the car over time will sit lower so replacing these will raise the ride height a little and of course shocks do wear. I wonder if your car has ever had any shocks replaced in its time, I know mine are original from the records I have and the comments made by AHM. Like you I am seriously considering the Nitron road versions of the R1's.

As an aside, lets see if we can arrange a drive out soon and invite others who may be in the area.

Edited by BiggaJ on Friday 7th May 13:27

[TR-Spider]

The steering issues you described are not normal.
And its surely related to either misaligned geometry, and/or worn bushings, and/or worn tires.
In the worst case a worn steering rack.
Check every of those items, replace whats worn and enjoy the V8V...